Oral Lichen Planus: Relation with Transaminase Levels and Diabetes

Erasmus Wilson (1869) described lichen planus for the first time.1 It is relatively common dermatological disorder occurring on skin and oral mucous membrane.2 It refers to lace like pattern produced by symbolic algae and fungal colonies on the surface of rocks in nature (Lichens). Prevalence of lichen planus in general population is about 0.9 to 1.2% and prevalence of oral lichen planus is reported to between 0.1 to 2.2%. Lichen planus is a disease of adulthood but occasionally children are also affected.3-5 70 to 77% cases present oral lesions who have dermatologic involvement.6 Lichen planus presents with characteristic violaceous, polygonal, pruritic papules on skin. The disease may affect mucosa, hair and nails as well. Lichen planus exhibits in various types like reticular, papular, plaque, atrophic, classical, erythematous, ulcerative, erosive, bullous, hypertrophied, annular, actinic, follicular and linear. Erosive lichen planus has been documented to be of premalignant nature but premalignant potential is thought to be controversial.7,8 Oral lichen planus can predispose to opportunistic infection by fungal microbes, Candida albicans have been thought to affect the patients with OLP.9,10 Erosive lichen planus is stated to appear in association with chronic liver diseases.11,12 In one study out of 187 patients, 40 showed increase of transaminase levels.13 It is important to look for any impairment in liver function tests in case of erosive oral lichen planus as elevation of transaminase levels was reported in many studies conducted earlier.14,15 The present study was taken up to look for any notable relation between transaminase levels and diabetes and oral lichen planus. PATIENTS AND METHODS